Courtesy of Girls Self Defense Club
Member Katherine Liu of the Girls Self Defense Club practices her newly learned skills with the club’s sophomore president Mona Chen.
On any Red Tuesday in the Team Room, sophomore Mona Chen, the president of the Girls’ Self-Defense Club, can be found teaching members how to protect themselves, such as how to avoid a tight wrist grab. Members then line up to try the moves, practicing with one another and taking turns maneuvering themselves out of a possibly violent situation.
Chen, a black belt in karate, has been practicing the art since she was 8. The club’s vice president is sophomore Sandya Iyer; sophomore Haley Pham is its secretary and junior Kayla Bingel is its treasurer. All have experience in karate and are nearing black belt status.
For Chen, the club is a chance to help others learn skills she sees as vital.
“I had barely any teaching experience before starting my club,” Chen said. “I took the instructor training class at my studio and shadowed as an instructor for a month during the summer.”
During a class where she was taught how to defend against a knife attack, Chen’s coach mentioned he wanted to start a chapter or class for girls’ self-defense. After sorting out the logistics, Chen was able to start the club at the beginning of this school year, receiving ASB approval in the fall.
The members learn detailed steps to defend themselves in dangerous scenarios, and are taught to escape from various grabs and to deflect attacks.
Besides throwing punches and defending themselves, members learn respect, discipline, perseverance and confidence, which expand on an individual’s character.
Currently, the club has around 10 consistent members, but they plan on expanding to a wider demographic, including elementary and middle schoolers.
The members plan on teaching kids at Treehouse, the Saratoga Union Elementary School after-school program. Though the curriculum will differ from what is being taught at the high school division of the Girls Self Defense Club, Chen sees learning some basics as something every girl should do.
“In this world, it is important to teach the younger generation how to properly defend themselves,” Chen said.
